Triplex pump.



D. P. LEPLEY. TRIPLEX PUMP.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 5, 1905.

4 SHEETSSHEET 1.

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- TRIPLEX PUMP.

APPLIOATION FILED OCT. 5, 1906.

QSHEETS-SHEET 2.

Attorneys Witnesses V No. 879,560. PATENTED FEB.18, 1908. D. F. LEPLBY. TRIPLEX PUM APPLICATION FILED OUT.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

fl Q O O O o Q a Q6 mm 8w m a? NV mm P by 1M mw t m Q mm QM NM. .T w 0 O O O flmzzezzi aze DANIEL F. LE PLEY, OF OONNELLSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRIPLEX PUMP.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1908.

Application filed October 1995- lSerial No. 231-516.

To all whom it' may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL-F. LEPLEY,I& citizen of the United States, residing at Connellsville, in the county of Fayette and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Tri lex Pump, of which the following is'a speci cation.

This invention relates to the construction of pumps, and has for its principal object to provide an improved mine plex type. Y

One of the principal objects of. theinvention is 'to provide a triplex pump in which all of the working parts are conveniently ac.- cessible, so thatall necessary adjustment of the plungers, stufling boxes, glands,-.valves, cross heads, connecting rods, and bearings may be made with perfect safety While the pump is in motion, and any worn or broken part may be readily renewed in theshortest possible time, and without the necessity-of removal to a repair shop. i

A further object of the invention is to pro-' vide a pump which may be installed at moderate expense and in which the space occupied is comparatively small, thus obviating the necessity of extensive and costly excavations and foundations within the-mine,

while still reserving all the space necessary between the pumps and around the various parts to admit of the free and unobstructed use of any tools or other appliances neces sary for-the installation of the pump in the mine, or the hurried removal and replacement of any part of the pump when necessary,

and further to so construct and arrange theparts that those requiring the greatest amount of care and attention are the most accessible, and so that an part may bereplacedby dismantling of die least number of its connecting members.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novelfeatures of construction and arran ement of parts, hereinafter fully describe illustrated the accompanying drawings,v and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in thefform, proportions,- size and -minordetails of. the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. v N T In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 pump of the triis a plan view of a triplex mine pump constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. is a vertical section of a portion of the pump on the line 33 of Fig. 1, the view being on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through one of'the pum s on the line 44 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 isa detail sectional view through the end portion of one of the cylinders, showing the bushings and stufiing box. Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the arrangement of. the bushings and stuffing box around the plunger rod. Fig. 7 is a. detail view of a center piece which is employed between the. pufnpin cylinders of each pair and carries the bus ings and stufling boxes of both. cylinders. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of the same on the line 88- detail sectional view of one. of the packing ring carrying disks detached.

Fig. 3

Similar numerals of "reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Mine pumps are in a class distinct from pumps employed for other purposes. Situated usually in the lower 'level of the mine,

and working continuously, they are exposed to the action of corrosive elements in the mine water, and cannot be shut down for adiustment or re airs with any degree of safety, owing to t e danger of floodin the .mine. It is of the first importance, t ere fore, that all of the parts of the pumpv be readily accessible for adjustment while the pump .is running, and that. the parts exposed to the greatest wear be so arranged as to permit ready renewalin' case of breakage or excessive wear. All of these features have been carefully considered in the construction of thepump forming the subject. of the pres ent invention. 4

The base or sole plate of the pumdp is formed of three sections, 10, 11 an 12 ;which are planed, and securely bolted together lengthwise, to secure and retain alinemen't, the sectional character of the plate permitting its convenient handling and transportation into the mine. All 0 the parts of the pump, together with the electric motor which operates the same, are rigidly secured to this plate in order to obtain rigid operating parts.

and permanent alinement with the various At the water end of the pump is arranged a main suction inlet pipe 15, from which lead three individual suction pipes 16 arranged in 'parallel relation, and at equal distances apart. These pipes are formed of cast metal, and each pipe is provided at one end with a closing cap 17, and at points near each end are vertically arrange elbows 18, leading to the pumpin cylinders. At points immediately below an in vertical alinement with the elbows are bolting flanges 19 that are secured in the sole plate, the structure being reinforced by suitable strengthening ribs 20. Between the bolting flanges 19 and the sole plate'are arranged liners 19, so that when necessary either end of the suction pi e may be unbolted, and by knocking out t e liner the erid of the pipe can be dropped a suflicient distance to clear it, and then swung laterally to one side or-the other for the purpose of removing the suction inlet .valves and their seats.

' Each pair of water cylinders 21 and 22 is connected by a center piece 23, and the cylinders are duplicates of each. other, and are interchangeable, so that a damaged cylinder may be readily removed, if necessary. These cylinders are mere unfinished castings, planed at the ends, but without any expensive stuffing box, valve, or other fittings, so that in case of breakage from water hammer or other cause they mav be quickly and cheaply replaced." All of the bushings, stuffing box members, and like portions of the ump which must be finished at considerablb expense are carried by the center piece, and as the latter is not subjected to shock or jar, and is not likely to be broken,- it is found much more convenient and economical to arrange the arts in this manner, and employ cylinders t at may be replaced at very small cost.

Between the lower bolting flange of each cylinder and the flange of the adjacent elbow is arranged a suction inlet valve seat 20, the valve seat having a projecting flange which fits in recesses formed in both of the boltingflanges in order to secure ri id and permanent alinement, and a packing gasket is, also, introduced on one or on both sides of the flange to revent leakage between the castings and t e seat: It Wlll be noted that the recess formed in the flange of the elbovi 18 is of'less depth than the thickness of the liner 19', so that whenthe latter is removed, the suction inlet pi e may be dro ped down clear ofthe va ve seat, and t en swung around, sothat the valve seat can be taken out for examination or re air. The valve pro er is in the form of a isk of vulcanized rub er 24 on which is abronze valve plate 25, the latter bein guided by a vertically disposed bronze va ve stem 26.

sition around the valve seats be In'one side of each cylinder is'a small man hole, normally closed by a cover 27 that may be readily removed in order to gain access to the valve in case it is not necessary to remove or detach the suction inlet pi e.

The top of each water cylinder as a discharge neck 27, provided with a bolting flange 28 that is secured to the bolting flange 29 of a valve chamber 30, the latter being arranged to contain a valve seat 31 of a construction similar to the suction valve, and the adjacent bolting flanges being both recessed in order to receive the valve seat flange. The; tops of the chambers 30 are provided with detachable covers 32 that are oltedin place and may be readily removed when it is necessary to gain access to the discharge valves, or the chambers as a whole may be unbolted in case it is necessary to remove the valve seat and valve. The two valve chambers 30 are connected by a T 33 to a discharge pipe 34, and the latter is provided with a compressed air chamber 37 that valve 0 ambers, the discharge section, and" the main delivery pipe connected thereto are all lined throughout with wood, the wooden linings 35 beingforrned of strips, the edges of which are planed to a bevel 'corresponding-to the radius of the inside'dia'meter o the various castings in which they are fitted, and securely keyed within said castings so as to make them practically water tight. The ends of the stri s are trimmed 0H flush with the laned su aces of the sections, so that the s eet gum gaskets used between the various bolting flanges will, also, be pinched between the abutting edges of the wood where exposed, so as to prevent water passing though the joints and gaining access to the surface of the casings back of the wood linings.

In linin the castings around the valve seats, wood n rings 35 are first laced in pof dre the main lining strips are inserted, and the cap members or covers are provided with facings of lead in order toresist the. action of the acidu- -lous water.- i

Fitting within each pair of water cylinders is a hollow bronze plunger 3] that is rigidly secured to a iston rod38 extending the en tire length of the plunger, the inner end of the latter being secured to the rod by fitting against the tapered enlargement of said rod, while the outer end is secured by a heavy nut 39 which is accessible for examination or renewal by the removal of the blank cylinder head 40 onthe outer end of the cylinder 22.

Each plunger fits within the two cylinders and passes through stufling boxes arranged at the adjacent ends of said cylinders.

The p unger is passed through suitable bushings 42 that are held in place between the cylinder and the central section 23 'are're.- cessed for the reception of the annular flangeof the bushing, the diameters of the recesses corresponding ap roximately to the diameter of the flange, so t at the latter will be rigidly I held in place. Between the outer face, of the flange and the recess at the end of the cylinder is arranged a gum gasket .42 in order to prevent access of the mine water between the. flange and the castings.

The outer end of the bushing is counterbored to form a acking space, and at the base of this pac ing space is inserted a flanged wear ring 43- which encircles the plunger and maybe readily removed when worn. The packing '44 is held in place by a flanged ring 43 that extends around the plunger, the flanged end of the ring bearing against the packing and being held in place by a suitable gland 45 that may be tightened by bolts 46, theT heads of which. areinserted in suitable recesses formed in the outer face of the section 23.

It will be seen that the stuffing boxes, bushings and portions exposed to wear, and

especially .those portions which, from the necessity of finishing, are expensive, are all carried by the removable central section 23 and are wholly independent from the pumping cylinders, the latter being normally rough castings which are finished only at the bolting flanges. The cylinders are more or less' likely to break from water hammer, or other cause, and may be renewed. at comparatively small cost, while the center piece which carries the more expensive portions of the fittings is not exposed to shock or jar to any considerable extent, and is not likely to be broken. There is sufficient space between the adjacent ends of the glands to permit the removal of either gland for the renewal of I packing, or to permit the renewal of either bolted to thesole plate.

of the wear rings 43-43 The bushings may likewise be renewed, but this will seldom, if ever, be necessary. The cross head guides 50 of the outer sets of pumps are provided with heavy cast iron base members 51 that are bolted to the sole plate, and each is provided with a heavy extension trunk bed 52 on the outer end of which is cast a pillow box for the reception of the crank shaft 53, the pump extension being, also, The cross head guide 55 of the center pump is provided With a heavy base that is secured to the sole plate, and with extension lugs 56 that are bolted to the trunk bed 52 of the outer guides, all of said guide sections being thus rigidly held in place, and in to the pillow blocks.

proper position with respect- The inner endsof the guide sections are bolted to the bolting flanges of the cylinders 21 and both the guide sections and the cylinder flanges are provided with recesses for the reception of the flange 56 of a bushing 56*. Surrounding the bushing is a bolting ring'57 having a flanged inner end that is arranged in a recess at the end of the guide section 50 and is held in place by the flange 56 when the parts are bolted together. This bolting. ring is provided with openings for the reception of the bolts 59 of a gland 5'8, and in turning these bolts,it frequently happens that one will be broken offwithin the bolting ring. In such case, the parts may be detachedto permit the insertion of a new bolting ring at small expense. The bushing 56 is counter-bored for the reception of a flanged wear ring 57 that surrounds the plunger rod 38, and which forms the inner seat for a packing 57 that is confined 'is engaged by the gland and forced against the packing for the purpose of compressing the same. It will be seen that these parts of the pump are wholly independent of the water cylinder and may be readily renewed when worn or broken.

The guide sections are provided with wear plates 60 for the reception of the cross heads 61, and the wear plates are preferably concaved in cross-section to receive the correspondingly curved outer face of the cross heads and thereby )ermit a certain amount of rotation within the guides and relieve the connecting rod and pin of any torsional strain that may be ultimately produced by reason of unequal wear of the pillow box bearings. The main or crank shaft 53 is mounted in the pillow box bearings 65, the

latter beingspaced for the reception of the crank arm 66 that carries the central crank pin 67, and to the outer ends of the crank shaft are secured gears 68 that carry crank pins 69, the several crank pins being arranged at one hundred and twenty degrees from each other, and being connected to the cross heads by rods 70. The center crank arms 67 are so arranged as to occupy the entire space between the two pillow boxes 65, and thus prevent endwise movement of the shaft.

To the base or sole plate is secured a pair of stand )illow boxes 73 which are further supported by rods 7 4 extending between the boxes, and lugs 75 that project from the outsidecrosshead guides. These pillow boxes form su ports for acounter-shaft 76 that is rovide with a pair of inions 77, intermeshmg with the gear 68, an these parts are made of such strength that in the event of breakage of one set of gears, the other set will be suflicient to drive the main crank shaft. To the outer end of the crank shaft is secured a gear 80 that intermeshes with a pinion 81, on

a shaft 82, mounted in pillow boxes 83 secured to the section 12 of the sole plate.

Secured to, but insulated from the sole plate, is a slow speed electric motor 83, the armature shaft 84 of which is in axial alinement with the shaft 82; The adjacent ends of these shafts are provided with disks 85, and each disk carries an annular series of pro'ecting pins 86, one set of pins fitting wit in the other, and the two sets being connected by a flexible belt 89 which may be formed of leather or other n'on-conductin 'material, the drive connection so formed being suflicient to absorb all shock, and at the same time prevent the grounding of the circuit through the frame of the pump.

At the water end of the pump the several sets of cylinders are elevated from the bed plate, and are arranged at such distances from each other that the attendant may freely pass between them and adjust any part of the mechanism while the pump is in motion, and any part of the pump may be readily examined and repairs or renewals of parts may be effected in the shortest possible time, those arts most ex osed bein readily disconnecte and renewec without ismantlin any of the other parts of the pump.

flaving thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a triplex pump, three pairs of pumping cylinders arranged in parallel relation and separated from each other to form clear working spaces between and around the cylinders, a sole plate, and suction inlet pipes sup orted by the sole plate and extendln un er and forming supports for the severa pumping cylinders.

2. In a triplex pum three pairs of pum ing cylinders arran ed side by side in parall el relation, suction in ct pipes extending under the cylinders and forming elevating su ports therefor,.the inlet pipes being paralle with the longitudinal axes of the cylinders to alliford unobstructed working spaces between t em.

3. In a triplex pum three pairs of umping cylinders arrange side by side an separated to form clear workin s aces, a sepa rate base for each air of cyIin ers, said base being formed by t e suction inlet pipe leading to said cylinders, the inlet pipes being detachable from the cylinders and movable ear Working spaces pipes an the sole plate to permit dropping of the pipes and their lateral movement to free the valve seats.

5. In a pump, a pair of alining cylinders, a center piece connecting them, the. center piece and cylinders having bolting flanges, both of which are recessed, bushings havin annular flanges confined in said recesses, sai bushings being counter-bored to form packing spaces, wear rings and packing members arranged within sai packing s aces to permit the ready renewal without etaching the bushing, and glands engaging the outer wear ring and serving to compress the packin 6. In a pump, the combination wit a cylinder having an end bolting flange, of a cross head guide towhich the flange is secured, the end of the guide and the flange being recessed, a bushing having a flange confined Within said recesses, a bolting ring extending through an openin formed in the guide member and partly hel in place by the bushing, said bolting ring being provided with threaded openings for the reception of the glandbolts wear rings, and a packin arranged Within the bushing, and a glan bearing against the outermost wear ring and held in place by the bolts.

7. The combination in a pump, of a cylinder, a lunger, a plunger rod, a stufling'box for sai plunger rod, a gland for holding the packingunder pressure in said box, and a separate detachable ring having threaded openings for the reception of the gland bolts.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL F. LEPLEY.

Witnesses:

JNo. E. PARKER, J. Ross Common. 

